Bertini Type Theorems

Abstract

Let $X$ be a smooth irreducible projective variety of dimension at least 2 over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0 in the projective space ${\mathbb{P}}^n$. Bertini's Theorem states that a general hyperplane $H$ intersects $X$ with an irreducible smooth subvariety of $X$. However, the precise location of the smooth hyperplane section is not known. We show that for any $q\leq n+1$ closed points in general position and any degree $a>1$, a general hypersurface $H$ of degree $a$ passing through these $q$ points intersects $X$ with an irreducible smooth codimension 1 subvariety on $X$. We also consider linear system of ample divisors and give precise location of smooth elements in the system. Similar result can be obtained for compact complex manifolds with holomorphic maps into projective spaces.